Temperate and submediterranean thorn scrub

Description (English)

Scrub dominated by a diversity of mostly thorny shrubs, small trees and saplings, in successions and ecotones on mesic soils in a wide variety of semi-natural landscapes through the temperate and submediterranean lowlands of Europe but sometimes extending to higher altitudes, as with the Balkan šibljak. The dominants and associated floras vary widely with differences in regional climate and soils.

Quick facts

Legal status

Vegetation types

Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)

Not available

Indicator species

Diagnostic species

Constant species

Dominant species

Flowering PlantsPrunus spinosa

Flowering PlantsRubus ulmifolius

Flowering PlantsCrataegus monogyna

Diagnostic species occur concentrated in the habitat in question, but are absent or rare in other habitats. They are good positive indicators of the habitat, but they do not need to occur in every location of the habitat.